Tag Archives: David Sylvian

David Sylvian: There’s a Light That Enters Houses with No Other House in Sight

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On November 24, 2014, “Samadhi Sound”, label released “There’s a Light That Enters Houses with No Other House in Sight”, the eighth David Sylvian studio album. It was recorded in 2014, and was produced by David Sylvian. 

Personnel:

  • David Sylvian – piano, sampler, computer, electronics, laptop, engineer, art direction
  • Christian Fennesz – guitar, laptop
  • John Tilbury – piano
  • Franz Wright – spoken word
  • Alfred A. Knopf – recording arrangement
  • Tony Cousins – mastering
  • Chris Bigg – design
  • Nicholas Hughes – cover photography
  • David La Spina – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by David Sylvian, with prose poems from Kindertotenwald by Franz Wright.

  1. There’s a Light That Enters Houses with No Other House in Sight

Danny Thompson

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On September 23, 2025, Daniel Henry Edward Thompson aka Danny Thompson died aged 86. He was musician (upright bass, tea chest bass), songwriter and record producer, member of Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated, led a trio that included John McLaughlin, but was best known as member of Pentangle and long – time collaborator with John Martyn. During his long musical career he recorded and played with a large variety of other musicians, including Richard Thompson, Kate Bush, Tim Buckley, ABC, Skin, Ayuo, Richard Barbieri, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Sam Brown, Graham Coxon, Donovan, Christine Collister, Barbara Dickson, Bick Drake, Everything but the Girl, Marianne Faithfull, Peter Gabriel, Davey Graham, Mara!, Linda Lewis, Mike Landup, Magna Carta, The Chris McGregor Septet, Loreena McKennitt, Ralph McTell, Alison Moyet, Cliff Richard, Dizrhythmia, David Sylvian, Duffy Power, Deva Premal, Andrew Ridgeley, Talk Talk, Loudon Wainwright III, Se. E. Rogie, Darell Scott, Songhai, Vivian Stanshall, Eric Bibb & North Country Far, Hunter Muskett, Mary Hopkin, John Stevens, Alan Holdsworth, Bert Jansch, David Wharnsby, Boo Hewerdine, Tasmin Archer, The Incredible String Band, T. Rex and Rod Stewart. As leader Thompson released seven albums.

Simon House

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On May 24, 2025, Simon House died aged 76. He was musician (violin, keyboards) and composer, performed and recorded with High Tide, Third Ear Band, Thomas Dolby, David Sylvian, Japan, Alan Davey, Nektar, Spiral Realms, Rod Goodway, Denny Gerrard, Robert Calvert, Anubian Lights, Michael Moorcock & The Deep Fix, Adrian Shaw, Earth Lab, Magic Muscle, Bedouin, Astralasia, Spirits Burning, Judy Dyble, Ambient Time Travelers, Mike Oldfield, and David Bowie, but was best known as member of Hawkwind. As leader, House released two albums.

David Sylvian: Dead Bees On A Cake

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On March 29, 1999, “Virgin” label released “Dead Bees on a Cake”, the fifth David Sylvian studio album. It was recorded in 1998, at “Right Track Studios” in New York, “Real World Studios” in Box, Wiltshire, “Sound House Studio” in  Seattle, “Atma Sound” in Minneapolis, “Seedy Underbelly” in Minneapolis, “Synergy Studio” in Napa, California, and was produced by David Sylvian.

Personnel:

  • David Sylvian – vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass, drum programming, samples, string arrangements, art director, additional engineering, mixing
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto – Fender Rhodes, orchestrations and string arrangements, brass arrangements, sampled guitar and bansuri, insects
  • Tommy Barbarella – Fender Rhodes
  • Marc Ribot – acoustic and electric guitar, slide guitar
  • Bill Frisell – dobro, acoustic guitar
  • Kenny Wheeler – flugelhorn
  • Lawrence Feldman – flute
  • Deepak Ram – bansuri
  • John Giblin – bass
  • Chris Minh Doky – double bass
  • Steve Jansen – percussion, loops, cymbals
  • Ged Lynch – original drum track, drums
  • Skoota Warner – original drum track, drums
  • Talvin Singh – tabla and percussion
  • Steve Tibbetts – gong
  • Ingrid Chavez – vocals
  • Shree Maa – vocals
  • Dave Kent – engineer, mixing, studio maintenance
  • Jacquie Turner – engineer assistant
  • Matt Curry – engineer assistant
  • Scott Crane – engineer assistant
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Yuka Fujii – art director, artwork co-ordinator
  • Shinya Fujiwara – drawings
  • Anton Corbijn – photography
  • Ingrid Chavez – inlay portrait
  • Russell Mills – design (shed)
  • Michael Webster – design assistance (storm)

Track listing:

All tracks by David Sylvian, except as noted.

  1. I Surrender
  2. Dobro #1 – David Sylvian, Bill Frisell
  3. Midnight Sun – David Sylvian, Johnny Moore, Charles Brown, Eddie Williams
  4. Thalheim
  5. God Man
  6. Alphabet Angel
  7. Krishna Blue
  8. The Shining of Things
  9. Café Europa
  10. Pollen Path
  11. All of My Mother’s Names (Summers with Amma)
  12. Wanderlust
  13. Praise (Pratah Smarami) – Shree Maa, David Sylvian
  14. Darkest Dreaming – David Sylvian, Djivan Gasparyan

Nine Horses: Money For All

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On January 16, 2007, “Samadhi Sound” label released “Money for All”, the only Nine Horses EP. It was recorded in 2006, and was produced by David Sylvian, Burnt Friedman and Steve Jansen.

Personnel:

  • David Sylvian – vocals, electric piano, guitar, harmonica, arrangements, mixing, art direction
  • Steve Jansen – keyboards, synth, percussion, samples, drum programming, mixing
  • Burnt Friedman – drum programming, synth, effects, electronics
  • Thomas Elbern – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Joseph Suchy – guitar
  • Tim Motzer – guitar
  • Daniel Schröter – double bass, bass
  • Hayden Chisholm – clarinet
  • Morten Grønvad – vibraphone
  • Norbert Krämer – timpani
  • Alexander Meyen – violin
  • Claudio Bohorquez – cello
  • Stina Nordenstam – vocals
  • Beverlei Brown, Tommy Blaize – backing vocals
  • Andrea Grant, Derek Green – backing vocals
  • Atsushi Fukui – cover artwork
  • Chris Bigg – design

Track listing:

All lyrics by David Sylvian except where noted, all music by David Sylvian and Burnt Friedman, except where noted.

  1. Money for All
  2. Get the Hell Out – music by Steve Jansen, David Sylvian
  3. The Banality of Evil – Burnt Friedman Remix
  4. Wonderful World – Burnt Friedman Remix
  5. Birds Sing for Their Lives – Stina Nordenstam
  6. Serotonin – Burnt Friedman Remix
  7. Money for All – (Version)
  8. Get the Hell Out – Burnt Friedman Remix – Steve Jansen, David Sylvian

David Sylvian And Robert Fripp: Darshan

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On December 6, 1993, “Virgin” label released “Darshan” (The Road to Graceland), the second of three collaborative album by David Sylvian and Robert Fripp. It was recorded July – December 1993, and was produced by Robert Fripp and David Sylvian.

Personnel:

  • David Sylvian – vocals, guitars, keyboard, tapes
  • Robert Fripp – guitars, frippertronics
  • Trey Gunn – vocals, grand and tenor chapman stick
  • Jerry Marotta – drums, percussion
  • Marc Anderson – percussion
  • David Bottrill – treatments, sampled percussion, computer programming

Track listing:

  1. Darshan (translucent remix by The Grid) – David Sylvian, Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, David Bottrill – remixed by The Grid
  2. Darshana – David Sylvian, Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, David Bottrill, Cobain, Dougans – reconstructed by The Future Sound of London 
  3. Darshan (The Road to Graceland) – David Sylvian, Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, David Bottrill

Nine Horses: Snow Borne Sorrow

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On October 17, 2005, “Samadhi Sound” label released “Snow Borne Sorrow”, the debut Nine Horses album. It was recorded 2001 – 2005, at “Miloco 3”, “Eden Studios” and “Sphere Studios” in London, “1k Recording Studio” in Philadelphia, “UTS Sound Studio”, “University of Technology” in Sydney, “First Floor Rec.” in Copenhagen, and was produced by David Sylvian.

Personnel:

  • David Sylvian – vocals, keyboards, guitar, mixing, art direction, executive producer
  • Steve Jansen – drums, percussion, sample programming, keyboards, mixing
  • Burnt Friedman – drum programming, keyboards, toy piano, Korg MS-20, vocoder, loops, pan, recording, mixing, editing
  • Jim Motzer – acoustic and electric guitar
  • Tim Elsenburg – electric guitar
  • Joseph Suchy – electric guitar
  • Riff Pike III – electric guitar
  • Ryuichi Sakamoto – piano, piano treatment
  • Keith Lowe – double bass, bass
  • Neal Sutherland – bass
  • Daniel Schroeter – bass
  • Stina Nordenstam – vocals
  • Arve Henriksen – trumpet
  • Hayden Chisholm – clarinet, saxophone
  • Theo Travis – saxophone, flute
  • Thomas Hass – saxophone
  • Morten Grønvad – vibraphone
  • Carsten Skøv – vibraphone
  • Eska G. Mtungwazi, Marcina Arnold – backing vocals
  • Andrea Grant, Derek Green – backing vocals
  • Beverlei Brown, Tommy Blaize – backing vocals
  • Wes Mills – cover artwork
  • Chris Bigg – design

Track listing:

All lyrics by David Sylvian, all music as noted.

  1. Wonderful World – David Sylvian, Steve Jansen
  2. Darkest Birds – David Sylvian, Steve Jansen
  3. The Banality of Evil – Burnt Friedman, David Sylvian
  4. Atom and Cell – David Sylvian, Steve Jansen
  5. A History of Holes – Burnt Friedman, David Sylvian
  6. Snow Borne Sorrow – Steve Jansen, David Sylvian
  7. The Day the Earth Stole Heaven – Burnt Friedman, Jim Motzer, David Sylvian
  8. Serotonin – Burnt Friedman, David Sylvian
  9. The Librarian – Burnt Friedman, David Sylvian

David Sylvian And Robert Fripp: Damage

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On October 1, 1994, “Virgin” label released “Damage”, live album by David Sylvian and Robert Fripp. It was recorded in December 1993, at “Royal Albert Hall”, in London, and was produced by Robert Fripp and David Bottrill.

Personnel:

  • David Sylvian – vocals, guitar, keyboards, tapes
  • Robert Fripp – guitar, Frippertronics
  • Trey Gunn – vocals, Chapman Stick
  • Michael Brook – Infinite guitar
  • Pat Mastelotto – drums
  • David Kent – engineer
  • David Bottrill – mixing
  • David Singleton – digital editing, producer assistant
  • Stuart White – keyboard and recording technician
  • Alan Pollard – keyboard and recording technician
  • Steve Flewin – monitor engineer
  • John Sinks – guitar technician
  • Clint Lockyer – stick/drum technician
  • Dave Newton – stage manager, keyboard/guitar technician
  • Haruki Kaito – light and stage design
  • Phil Wiffen – light operator
  • Tim Hook – tour manager

Track listing:

  1. Damage – Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, David Sylvian
  2. God’s Monkey – David Bottrill, Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, David Sylvian
  3. Brightness Falls – Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, David Sylvian
  4. Every Colour You Are – Richard Barbieri, Steve Jansen, Mick Karn, David Sylvian
  5. Firepower – Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, David Sylvian
  6. Gone to Earth – Robert Fripp, David Sylvian
  7. 20th Century Dreaming (A Shaman’s Song) – Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, David Sylvian
  8. Wave – David Sylvian
  9. River Man – David Sylvian
  10. Darshan (The Road to Graceland) – David Bottrill, Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, David Sylvian
  11. Blinding Light of Heaven – Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, David Sylvian
  12. The First Day – Robert Fripp, Trey Gunn, David Sylvian

David Sylvian: Manafon

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On September 14, 2009, “Samadhi Sound” label released “Manafon”, the seventh David Sylvian studio album. It was recorded 2004–2007, in Vienna, Tokyo and London, and was produced by David Sylvian.

Personnel:

  • David Sylvian – vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards, electronics, engineer, mixing, art direction
  • Burkhard Stangl – guitar
  • Keith Rowe – guitar
  • Christian Fennesz – guitar, laptop
  • Otomo Yoshihide – acoustic guitar, turntables
  • Tetuzi Akiyama – acoustic and electric guitar
  • John Tilbury – piano
  • Werner Dafeldecker – acoustic bass
  • Evan Parker – saxophone
  • Franz Hautzinger – trumpet
  • Marcio Mattos – cello
  • Michael Moser – cello
  • Toshimaru Nakamura – no input mixer
  • Joel Ryan – tape signal processing
  • Sachiko M. – sine waves
  • Christoph Amann, Toshihiko Kasai, Sebastian Lexer, Neil Tucker – additional engineering
  • Yuka Fujii – art direction
  • Chris Bigg – design
  • Atsushi Fukui – David Sylvian portrait and related drawings
  • Ruud van Empel – cover artwork

Track listing:

All tracks by David Sylvian.

  1. Small Metal Gods
  2. The Rabbit Skinner
  3. Random Acts of Senseless Violence
  4. The Greatest Living Englishman
  5. 125 Spheres
  6. Snow White in Appalachia
  7. Emily Dickinson
  8. The Department of Dead Letters
  9. Manafon

Ryuichi Sakamoto

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On March 28, 2023, Ryuichi Sakamoto died aged 71. He was musician (piano, keyboards, synthesizers), singer, composer, record producer and artist, who first came to prominence as member of Yellow Magic Orchestra, but was best known for his eclectic solo career, straddled experimentalism, electronic, pop and movie music. His work influenced a number of various electronic music genres. He collaborated with big number of musicians, including David Sylvian, David Byrne, Iggy Pop, Thomas Dolby, Adrian Belew, Robin Scott, Kiyoshiro Imawano, Arto Lindsay, Youssou N’Dor, Jill Jones, Robert Wyatt, Brian Wilson and Robbie Robertson. Sakamoto was an “Oscar” winner for “Best Original Score”, for the soundtrack of Bernardo Bertolucci’s movie “The Last Emperor”. As leader, he released 23 albums.